E86 Suspension Refresh

B

burbridgeh

New member
Hi all!

I've got a Z4 coupe si sport with some very tired suspension (Still factory at 95k miles) and I've been researching options over the past few months but have only found my self going round in circles. So I was wondering, what has everyone got that keeps OEM sport ride height while having good ride quality for the UK's dodgy roads?

My current plan is Bilstein B4 shocks, OEM equivalent springs and powerflex bushings. Also, does anyone have any recommendations for a mechanic around the Cambridgeshire area?

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
 
What I've read on forums and seen on YT: No, don't get the B4 instead get the B8. The B4 will soon start to bottom out. Personally I've got an ST XTA on order for my E85 which I will swap this spring to - coming from stock shocks with Eibach pro springs
 
I’ve just done a big refresh on mine.

Bilstein B4s
Both front and rear top mounts Meyle HD front and Bilstein rear
Front wishbones and lollipop bushes Meyle HD
Rear control arms Lemforder
Both front and rear drop links Lemforder
4 wheel alignment

Didn’t get much change from £3k once everything was done. Including parts and labour.

Car drives fantastically now though. All the ‘tiredness’ from everything has gone and it feels very tight and precise to drive.
 
I’ve done B4 shocks, OEM spec springs (Suplex, Lemforder) on two roadsters now and they’ve both been fine. Not experienced any bottoming out of the shocks even on terrible roads driven possibly faster than they should’ve been. (Both cars bottomed out on the blown factory shocks/springs previously.)

I’ve not put powerflex on, but have heard good things about their road going ones (purple?). Drop links made more of a difference than I expected on the 2.5i.
 
Not sure why it would bottom out unless lowering springs had also been added. The main issue with the oe set up is there isn't much travel in the rear and the bilstein kits are meant to solve this making the car drive better than the originals.

I had h&rs on my first M looked cool ride was awful and would bottom out
 
On roadsters I usually use Sachs as OEM. You don't seem to be able to get those for the E86 rear, so it's B4s, then a lot of people decide to fit the B4 fronts to match. Tbh, Sachs and B4 are pretty much interchangeable (though not across an axle obviously).
For springs, never had any complaints by using standard replacements from Suplex or Lesjofors.
I've only replaced rubbers with new standard ones tbh.

One thing you definitely do NOT want to do is fit rear Meyle HD top mounts. Awful things, with metal on metal contact through the centre bush and crash loudly to drive you insane.

I documented a complete suspension refresh on a 185k E86 a while back. Can't find it now, but I'll keep digging.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: B21
Found it.
F

Thread 'Is this the end? 180k miles, £3k+ bill for suspension and universal joint?'

I've had my Z4 3.0si Coupe for over 12 years, I love it. I spend roughly £1000 a year on it (including tyres and suspension bits, mot, service etc). I am by no means a car expert at all, nor a mechanic, but I do love my Z4.

I fear that after 180,000 miles, it could be the end for my Z4 as im facing a potential £3000+ bill to get it fixed and I'm wondering what I should do.

I noticed that there seems to be a substantial issue with the suspension recently, scraping speed bumps etc and it also looks like its slightly leaning on the passenger side. I sent it into my local independent BMW...
 
Sibi said:
What I've read on forums and seen on YT: No, don't get the B4 instead get the B8. The B4 will soon start to bottom out. Personally I've got an ST XTA on order for my E85 which I will swap this spring to - coming from stock shocks with Eibach pro springs
Click to expand...

So little correction. A guy I watch on YT with Z4 used the B6 with M-Sport springs and the rear was leaking and therefore bottom out after some miles. So might be not an B4 Issue - sorry for confusion.

Here is the video.

 
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